The Time the Sky was Dark

Blind

Didja get why Cryssie didn't faint? No? Well, here's the next chapter, no need to worry!

P.S. It was because she wore Rise's Pecha Scarf. In the next to last chapter, she and Rise had traded items near the end of the chapter so Rise could lead with the X-ray Specs, which should have let him see the enemies, but he was inexperienced with using it and thought that Team Skull were items, thus giving the other team a chance to attack them by surprise.

- - -

      The moon had almost completely lowered by the time the tired trio found their way home. After making sure Torkoal would be all right, the three settled in their room, Crystal strangely elated. Rise would have questioned it, but he was just happy everyone was okay and that she didn't have that haunted look that had frightened him so badly earlier. He found himself smiling as well as he drew Celeste close, giving her a quick nuzzle before settling in. He was glad she had learned synthesis -somehow she'd forgotten before, but she wasn't that great in battle anyways- so she'd been fully healed after the poison. He could still feel traces of it in his lungs, but knew it would go away soon.

     Chatot had decided that, after the night's fiasco, the guild would leave after lunch, giving the team enough time to at least get some sleep. Loudred would be instructed not to wake them, and all was well. Rise turned to his nest. It had never looked more inviting and cozy than it did now, and he was ready to give his bed a hug. He curled up into the soft pile and closed his eyes.

     "Goodnight, Celeste."

     "Goodnight, Rise."

     "Goodnight, Crystal."

     "..." She was already asleep, and Rise couldn't blame her. After all, she'd protected him from Skuntank when the large skunk Pokemon had grabbed his neck. Torkoal hadn't stopped praising her for saving him, much to her embarrassment. She still seemed uncomfortable talking about it, though Rise gave her his thanks and congratulations for saving him and regaining her fighting spirit. She replied with something strange.

     "I'm not fighting anymore..." She had replied with a quick nuzzle on his arm, "I'm only defending."

     He wondered what the difference was. Unable to figure out the conundrum, or even why it was so important, he gave up. It was not long before he joined her in dreamland.

                                                                               ~*~*~*~

     Somewhere else in the starlit night, a turqoise water dragon glided over the ocean's surface, luminated by the waxing moon. The creature swam towards the rocks, shrouded in darkness, the shell on it's back gleaming in the late light dimming when it passed under a large boulder, wet and smooth from the spray of the waves. It came to an outcropping of land, where another Pokemon stood, a pink puffball with baby blue eyes.

     The dragon and the puff came together as close as water and land would allow them, and the pink, rabbit-esque creature began speaking in a whisper.

     "Lapras..." The voice was barely audible over the waves. "Long time no see!"

     "It's been too long, Wigglytuff... You look well." Lapras said politely. "Is Chatot doing well?"

     "Yes! Very well~" Said Wigglytuff a bit too enthusiastically. He quieted slightly, as if someone could hear him.

     "I'm glad to hear that!" Lapras said, almost matching the normal Pokemon's excitement. "... I've always meant to thank you..." Lapras said more quietly. "I deeply appreciate the promise you made... and upheld for all this time." The sea creature said.